The Arizona sentinel., 1887-12-24
LOST OAFFODIL.
Where He was Found, and Why No One
Was Ready to Claim Him.


Was Ready to Claim Him.
Every one in the house was search.
ing for Daffodil, even Aunt Bell and
! good d-natured Bridget
Arthur was in the garrett humping
his eager little head on the rafters;
Nell and Bella were peering under
beds and poking into corners calling
their pets name in vain. Poor little
Teddy went about up stairs and down
stairs, dragging his dearest rag-doll
by one leg, and finally ended by cry
ing heartily in Aunt Bells arms.
Daffodil was an important member
of the Heath family. Although he
was only beautiful Maltese cat he
was the star of Arthur's circus troupe,
an excellent carriage horse for Bell s
dolls, the best-mannered scholar in
Nellie's school. and Teddy's especial
companion and darling Auntie often
said they couldn' keep house without
Daffodil.
Whatever can have become of
himP" exclaimed Arthur. as he brushed
the cobwebs from his hair. 'rll have
to put off my afternoon performance.
cause that mean cat does half the
tricks
He is not mean. Arthur! How can
you say so, when he may be dead this
very minuteP" said Nell. sadly.
II wants my Darfodilr' roared Ted,
bursting forth afresh at this dismal
view of the case.
There! therer' said Aunt Bell,
soothingly. He will be back for his
supper. l don't believe he is lost at
all, my dearie, so dry your eyesr'
He never goes away for one minute,
auntie," declared Bella. 'and we
haven't seen him to-day! l shouldn't
wonder if Tom Akers had coaxed him
off birding. He once said he could
teach Daffodil to hunt birds for him.
If Daffy gets into any of Toms old
traps, we shan't ever see him again. ~
That's so!' exclaimed Arthur,
jumping up. 'Tn 90 straight down
to Toms house. When the fellows
come to the circus, just tell them it's no
60 without Daft" He settled his polo
cap on his curls and trudged of, while
Ted climbed the garden gate and
watched anXiouslY.
Supper time came, and Teddy car
ried Daffodil's saucer of milk to the
shed. Then he sat down on the door
step. calling softly: 'Here. Darfy!
DLrfyr' in a coaxing, winning tone
that would have brought Daffodf to
him in long bounds, had he been near.
Bridget rang the bell for supper.
and still neither Arthur nor kitty had
returned.
In spite of Aunt Bells assurances
that Daffodil would be home by bed
time, Nell and Bella insisted on believ-
ing him to be dead pussy, and talked |
over his many virtues. till poor Teddy
ate far less bread and milk than usual |
After time Arthur came slowly in.
He looked tired. and his usually merry
face was quite sober. He hung up his
cap. and then met the volley of ques-
tions with: ''Yes, l found Daft. "
'Dead?"
mo alive and WE'LL"
"Why didn't you bring himP'' de-
manded Ted.
when l got down to Toms, he !
hadn't seen him at all. He went with
me to look at the traps, but not one
was sprung. Then l tell you. we just
hunted the whole village over, and
asked every body we met. but no one
had seen or heard of him. l was COM
ing along in the dark past Nat Deans
house, so l just looked into the window
as l passed and there
Not DLffodil!" cried the children,
eagerly.
There was Daffodil frisking over
poor Mats bed and Nat was looking as
happy as king. auntie. Then Daft
jumped up and rubbed against him
and he laughed. His mother was
smiling, too, and 1 heard her say:
Nat, you're most a-for- getting that
back O. yours, long O that cat. why,
can go off washin' real light-hearted
low.' 4 couldn't go in and tell them
t was our cat after that, so just ran
lome as hard as could"
No one said a word for few sec
'nds. Then Ted burst forth with: Il
lon't tarei wants my Darfyr'
DO you s'pose that cat walked off
lown therep" said Bella, gravely.
why, of course; Mrs Dean
steal him." returned Nell,
much shocked.
"Well, children said Aunt Bell,
'one of you can go down tomorrow /
md claim Daffodil. Who will go?" {
Not l." said Arthur. promptly.
That poor fellow hasn't single i
hing to play with, and Daffs q t
ouser" Here he choked q little.